Trolley wire support



Aug. 1 1944. s. s. MATTHES TROLLEY W IRE SUPPORT Filed Sept. 7, 1942 v 3nventor SAMUEL Si MATTHES Gttgmeg Patented Aug. 1, 1944 UNIT ED T F-IC'E 5 2,354,869 a I root Samuel S. Matth as, Mansfield, Ghio, .assignor to The Ohio BrassGornpany, Mansfield, Ohio, a

corporation of New Jersey Q App ica ion fihntcihher a. 4.2, n 457cm 2': ols o rel-4o) My inven ion el tes suppor s .f t olley wires andha p r i u sr-re erenc t P19... or w s at cu ve in w ch he w e orm a ;p urve o an ov h ad syst emn ovm th s allel wires for trolley coach pperat n, osed in my U ited States e:tch :ZiZ. 1 7; sued June 23, 1942.

My present disclosure s .1 improvem nt 9X91 y previous inventions bas d upon .actuh perience in the design, construction, .opera and service of past supports. invention has several objects,

.My present namely, to provide a support which 18 ii weight, which may be formed to ,apredeten radius of curvature, which'may have its v of curvature varied, and which may have (its radius of curvature maintained under stlic 'snf the trolley wire.

Other objects of my invention are ato provide a. support in whichthe ends ofrthe curve d bar or segment will withstandthe pullqf the troll ire without the loar tippingor twisting from s: ormail vertical position and dewiring the ent ollector, als in w ic m te -ta es h h tial y .uni m r s o curva ure and W1 p t a continuous t ol y wire with ll strai t i and oosening it cu vatu e stress of the trolle y wire.

Oth objects l e a arentexti es:askilles in-t e a from h des ri t en-whieh ramnbeut to give.

y invention es e i t e n one 'usefll construction, combination and relation of the parts hereinafter described and shown in drawing.

In the. drawing:

Fig. 1 is atop plan viewof my inventionpuitable for supporting a single trolley wire.

Fig. 2 is a side or edge.vi ew of;Fi g.;1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view beiore pre forming of the elongated bar or segment whichl employ.

Fig. 4 is one form of torsion and tension;--rod or tube which I use.

Fig. 5 is another form of rod or tugbe which I may use. n

Fig. 6 is a. part-section on the line 547A of Fig. 2 in which the rod shownin 1Fig.4 is ernployed.

Fig. 7 .is a part section on the line B-.-B of Fig. 1 in which the-rod shownin Fig.4! is used.

vFig. 8 is a part-sectionon the line B..- B. yvlien the rod ,shown in Fig. 5 is used; Fig.;6 shows-the other end of the rod 5.

Fig s w a -se i npn he line-n+h-hh,

.equally rnecess when e 9s1-s 9w -.ih-F --4 i used with the Pl t i Fig As the trolley ,coach art advance mprove.-

the .ehd are mind to t e d o the hair which this a e se sn th qrr nt ol- 39129 5 h three u rements a on e ioned abcvewh v hrou ht 3 p wrqh ms whi h have .had to be met. One of thedifiiculties met with in the first device ,produced to meet these re quiremcnts wasa tipping, twisting or canting of the curved hanajt orjad jacent the ,ends thereof due to the side pull exerted by the trolley wire and which also has a tendency to straighten out orotherwise change the curvature of the curved segment. ojribar since itisrelatively -long and of a light cross-section to keep down the weight.

' -I f the segment or har is of rectangular cross- -section,:i t :is normally disposed with its longitudinaiaxismarallelzto thelongitudinal axis of the trolley wire .and its leg vertically disposed.

S0 :longasthe: leg ofthe bar remains in its nor.- mal, syertical position and the proper radius of curvature of --the bar I is maintained, the current collector :is-reason'ably sure to follow the curve without dew-irement.

In order toovoid 'the twisting of the curved .segrnent or bar, -Iprovide means for opposing .the stresszcomponent acting normal to theside of the caradjacent-its end -andat its lower ed e which-is dueto thestressinthe trolley wire and hic en t s th she 9 th a r .pheir norrnal vertical position.

in the p e e e e eh d ih h .m nv nt I ploys Perth fe a i erm dto fi dfif i ploy ha em 2 r d u hew ht r 9 th iemham ee b e hr o m be weenthelizhit Q ee hd fe t ,The Jan) .l is longitudinally disposed and .is cro ded with t normall verti a l osed a 1. I; T?

leg portion 2 of rectangular cross-section with a laterally projecting leg portion 3 which preferably extends for the length of the portion 2.

In order to use a continuous trolley wire, as mentioned above, I provide the bar with a plurality of clamps 4, spaced along the bar as required to grip and support the trolley wire.

The clamps are shown as com-prisingrtwo bers 5 and 6 which are attached to theibar I on; the convex side and secured to the trolley wire 10 by means of the screws 1. The form of clamps and their association with the bar, as disclosed herein, form the subject matter of my co 'pending application, Serial No, 395,375, filedMay 27., 1941, j

now Patent Number 2,304,763,. dated December,-;.-

8, 1942. In order to support the bar I, Iprovide a plate 8 which is secured to the longitudinal center of the bar I by the bolts 9 or by other means; as welding. At the ends of the plate are holes II] or other means to receive supporting means. The plate 8 is provided with a plurality of spaced openingsC, namely, C- -I to C-5,-inclusive, spaced from the bar I and-by means of which I am able to adjust the attachmentto the plate of g5 one end of each torsion and tension rod'or tube 'I I.'-

The other end of each rod II is attached to' the end portions of thebarl that'is, at or ad-- jacent the ends of the bar. By shifting the-at v tachment of the ends of the rods II 'to different holes C, the radius of curvature may be altered. As shown in Fig. 1, the rods -II are attached to the plate 8 by means of the holes 0-3 which are? the positions for the intermediate predetermined curvature of the bar I, and by utilizing the holes C-I, C-2, C-4 and 0-5 the-radius of curvature} of the bar is altered. As a matter of convenience" and saving inweight of the'plate 8,the holes C for each rod are arranged in'two rows which permits the use of a shorter plate. 40

In order to prevent the side component'T (Figs. 6 and 7) due to the stress of the trolley wire acting below or at the lower edge of the bar I, and upsetting the normal vertical position of the bar, I introduce means to oppose such' stress comv ponent by setting up inthe rodsII a'torsio'nal; force R tending to counteract the side:pullzTrcif; the trolleywire.- T l The rods Il may be solid or'of tubing -.and.o f such diameter and of suchmaterial as*to-:.meeti requirements and the ends flattened: and provided] with one or more openings I I' for the Id 01178 12? and I3. 2 In order to widen the .portion-iat-pr adjacent the ends of thebar'l, I welda pie'ce'll of suificient length edgewise to the portion' 3 and then form therein a hole or holes for, the bolt 1-2. Should the portion 3 be left full width; theaddil tional portion I4 may not be required.- 1 1 Iprefer to use-the rod shown in Figs. 1;andL4- and in order to pro-load the rod-which-hasflat 0 tened ends with faces in -acommon plane, that is, to set up a torsional force therein,,-I .taper-or: slopethe upper surfaces of the plate} at I5 to the plane of the upper surface of the bar portion;

3,-or to the normal planeof the plate as shown in Fig. 7. This tapered surface is.. formed.,as .a part of theplate 8 which is usually 'a castingf' M 'It will beevident'that when the rods II are positioned and the'bolts" I2 and I3 tightened, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7,'that a torsional'force'is set-up in each rod which'tends'to twist the ends, of the bar I in the direction of the arrow R (Fig. 6). The'counterforce of the trolley'wire is" in the direction of the arrow T. Experience'will 7 guide one as to thenecessary make-up of the sci;

rods II or plate 8 or both to offset the side pull of the trolley wire.

This pre-loading may be brought about by using a plate, as shown in Fig. 8, in which the surface I6 is in the same plane or parallel plane to the plane of the upper surface of the portion 3 and flattening the rod ends with their faces out of alignment as in the rod II of Fig. 5. Here it will be, apparent that when the bolts are drawnup tight to bring the end faces of the rod into proper contact with the plate 8 and the bar that a torsional force will be set-up in the rod, the

efiect being the same as that described above with .respect to rod I I A';-further modification of the torsion and tenv.sionrod is to employ the rod II and the plate of ,Fig. 8 and modify the attachment of the rod to the bar' I- by employing bevelled washers I8, which will produ ce a pre-loading of the rod when the bolts I3 and I9 are drawn tight.

The? torsion or'tension rods may be of solid,

square, round, or rectangular cross-section, but-I prefer to use tubing as the same amount of metal I for a solid rod, when formed into a tube, offers more torsional stress since the metal in the tube is dist-ributed-at-a greater distance from the neutral axis and hence olTers a greater force moment, resisting torsion without increasing the weight.

If the torsion rods are of sufficient size and of the ends of the bar I from their normal vertical position when' the trolley wire stress is applied. It. is well-known b those skilled in the art that.

jin-trolley coach operation two parallel trolley wires are used and hence at each curve two devices shown in Fig. 1 will be required; and it is customary to. connect the adjacent ends of the plates together by means of insulated spacers, as set forth in my Patent 2,287,752.

'The rods II act as'tension members in that they take the pull of the trolley wires in direct longitudinal alignment therewith at the ends of the bar I' and; therefore, prevent the bars being and'the curvature thereof destroyed.

.Whenthe bar I is of uniform cross-section, I the i's"a"ten'dency for the same to assume a curve-mth'er' thanthat of a'true circle, that is, the curvature adjacent the plate 8 may take on a uniformradius throughout substantially its entifeil'engthwhich' isnot possibleif the bar is of uniform cross-section throughout itsentire length'f'Tlie portion 3 of the bar may be tapered from full width adjacent the longitudinal center to practically zero'at'the ends.

Therods I I and I1 and any otherrods employedfpr' like purpose are preferably of onepi''cefat least there must be no relative movement of the end seating faces of the rods from their normal alignment without setting-up 'a strong torsional resistance. 'Tension rods have been employed havingmeans to adjustthe length thereof as by turnbuckles and, also, one-piece rods have been used of such small diameter as to offer little, if any; torsional resistanceysuch approaching more nearlyj rods will not meetthe requirements set forth above.

The tension-torsion rods are so attached to the plate and bar that the rods may pivot relative thereto during adjustment of the curvature of the bar. This pivotal movement is necessary in order to permit the adjustment being made without distorting the parts as would be the case if the attachments were permanent.

By having more than one hole in one or both ends of the members I l and I1 and in the member I4, I am able to secure closer adjustment of the curvature of the bar I to that required, as such arrangement especially at the plate '8 end of the rods amounts to what may be termed a Vernier adjustment.

Wherever the term rod or member is used in the appended claim'sjand have reference to't'he member II or IT, they may be of either solid or tubing material.

Wherever the term longitudinally disposed is used in the claims it refers to the longitudinal axis of the bar I being parallel to or coinciding with the longitudinal. axis of the trolley wire. The trolley wire is usually horizontal or substantially so.

My invention is not limited to the use of an angle bar, as shown inlthe drawings, but may be of any other cross-sectional shape adapted to the purpose required as for instance a T or rectangle.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A curved segment to support a trolley wire for a portion of its length at a curve in an overhead system comprising, an elongated flexible body member, a support secured to the body member intermediate the ends thereof and provided with means to attach other supports thereto a plurality of torsion and tension members connected to the body member adjacent the ends,

thereof and to the support whereby a predetermined curvature of the body member may be maintained andthe longitudinal tension of the trolleywire transmitted to the plate member, means associated with the support and the body member and to which the ends of the torsion and tension members are attached whereby a torque is setup in the said tension members when secured in position and which torque is in opposition to the side pull of the trolley wire and means connected to the body member to receive and hold the trolley wire to the body member.

2. A curve assembly for use in an overhead trolley system to support .a trolley wire comprising, a strain plate to support the curve assembly in the system, an elongated. laterally bendable body member secured tothe plate intermediate the ends of the member, means to secure a trolley wire along the lower edge of the body member whereby the contact surface of the wire will be exposed to engagement by a moving current collector, torsion and tension members and non-rotatably connected to the end portions of the body member and attached to the plate in non-rotatable relation to the plate and to the body member to maintain a predetermined degree of curvature of the body member and towhereby the normally vertical plane of the bar i is maintained upright.

4. An overhead curve construction comprising, a trolley wire, an elongated relatively flexible body member having upper and lower longitudinal edges, a supporting plate attached to the body member adjacent the longitudinal center thereof andmeans to attach supporting means thereto, clamping means for attaching the trolley wire to the body member adjacent its lower edge and 'hold the trolley wire parallel thereto, a tension and torsion member having a predetermined torque attached to the upper edge of the body member and to the supporting plate to maintain a predetermined degree of curvature in the bar and to transmit the tension of the trolley wire to the supporting plate and to resist the twisting of the ends of the body member about its longitudinal axis due to the side pull of the trolley wire upon the lower edge of the body member.

5. A support for a trolley wire at a curve in an overhead trolley system comprising, an elongated body member, means including tension and torsion members connected to the end portions of the body member to maintain a predetermined curvature in the body member and provided with .a preloaded torque to resist the side pull of the trolley wire and to prevent the ends of the body member twisting out of alignment with the posite sides of the projecting means to the projecting means and attaching means associated with the projecting means to detachably secure the members to the projecting means in difierent positions thereon whereby the curvature of the bar may be either increased or decreased without changing the length of the members and the curvature maintained after adjustment thereof, the said members being so constructed and arranged relative to the bar and to the projecting means as to exert a predetermined" torque upon the ends of the bar constantly 'resisting the side pull of the trolley wire upon the ends of the bar thereby maintaining the verf tical leg of the bar in its normal 'upright position.

'7. An adjustable curved segment for an overhead trolley system comprising, an elongated laterally flexible body memberhaving a vertical leg, means adjacent the lower edge of the leg for supporting and aligning a trolley Wire with the exposed surface 'of the wire arranged to be engaged by a current collector, a supporting plate attached to the body member adjacent the longitudinal center thereof, bracing means, connecting the supporting plate and the ends of the body member, the ends of the bracing means and the supporting member being so arranged and constructed that when the bracing means are secured in osition, a torque will be produced in the bracing means tending to counteract any tendency for the said vertical leg to twist from its upright position due to the side pull of the trolley wire.

8. A support for a trolley wire at a curve in an overhead trolley system comprising, an elongated longitudinally disposed curved bar of metal having a vertically disposed leg, a transversely disposed late attached to the bar intermediate the ends thereof, means associated.

with the bar to support a continuous trolley wire with its lower surface exposed to contact with a current collector, elongated members extending from the bar on opposite sides of the plate to the plate and having their ends fixedly attached to the bar and to the plate, the members being sufliciently rigid and pre-torsioned whereby the force due to the normal side pull of the trolley wire tending to distort the said leg from the vertical will be resisted by said members. and additional torsional force required will be automatically developed in the said members and equal to the stress set up by any excess side pull of the trolley wire.

9. A support for a trolley wire at a curve in an overhead trolley system comprising, an elongated longitudinally disposed curved bar of metal having a vertically disposed leg, a transversely disposed supporting plate attached to.

the bar intermediate the ends thereof, means associated with the bar to connect the bar to a trolley wire, elongated tubular members extending from the bar on opposite sides of the plate to the plate and having their ends fixedly attached to the bar and to the plate and the members being sufilciently rigid and pre-torsioned whereby the force due to the normal side pull of the trolley wire tending to distort the said leg from the vertical will be resisted by said members, and additional torsional force will be automatically developed in the said members and equal to the stress set up by any excess side pull of the trolley wire.

10. A support for a trolley wire at a curve in an overhead trolley system comprising an elongated curved bar having a vertical leg and a laterally projecting leg along its upper edge, a transversely disposed supporting plate secured to the bar intermediate the ends thereof, means associated with the bar to secure the trolley wire thereto in predetermined relation to the lower edge of the bar, an elongated tubular member fixedly secured to the laterally projecting leg adjacent each end of the bar and to the plate at a point spaced from the attachment of the bar thereto, the said members being so con structed and arranged as to be suificiently pre-g torsioned to prevent a force due to the side pull of the trolley wire distorting the bar from its normal osition.

11. A support for a trolley wire at a curve in edge of the bar, an elongated member fixedly so cured to the laterally projecting leg adjacent each end of the bar and to the plate at a point spaced from the attachment of the bar thereto, the said members being pre-torsioned suificiently to prevent distortionof the bar from its normal position due to the side strain of the trolley wire.

12 A support for a trolley Wire at a curve in an overhead trolley system comprising a longitudinally disposed flexible elongated curved bar having a vertical leg and a laterally projecting leg alongits upper edge, the last said leg being tapered from the endsthereof to a point adjacent its longitudinal center for the purpose described, a transversely disposed supporting plate secured to the bar intermediate the ends thereof, means associated with the bar to secure the trolley wire thereto in predetermined relation to the lower edge of the bar, an elongated member fixedly secured to the laterally projecting leg adjacent each end of the bar and to the plate at a point spaced from the attachment of the bar thereto, the said members and the said plate and projecting leg being so constructed and arranged relative to each other that the attachment of the member ends to the plate and projecting leg will develop a torsional force in the members opposed to that due to the side pull of the trolley wire.

13. A support for a trolley wire at a curve in an overhead trolley system comprising an elongated longitudinally disposed curved bar having avertical leg, a transversely disposed supporting plate secured to the bar intermediate its ends,

means attached to the bar to secure the trolley wire thereto in predetermined relation to the lower edge of the bar, elongated members extending from the bar on opposite sides of the plate to the plate, securing means for fixedly attaching the ends of the members to the bar and plate respectively,the portion of the plate to which an end of each member is attached being so constructed and arranged that a torsional force will be developed in themembers when the securing means are applied thereto and which force will be opposed to that of the trolley wire tending to distort the leg of the bar.

14. A support for a trolley wire at a curve in an overhead trolley system comprising an elongated curved bar having a vertical leg, a transversely disposed supporting plate secured to the upper edge of the bar intermediate its ends, means attached to the bar to secure the trolley wire thereto in predetermined relation to the lower edge of the bar, elongated members extending from the bar on opposite sides of the plate to the plate, securing means for fixedly attaching the ends of the members to the bar and plate respectively, means on the bar and on the plateto receive the saidends of the members, the last said means being so constructed and arranged relative to eachother that when the ends of said members are fixedly attached to the 1 bar and plate that a torsional force is set up in the members which in turn acts upon the bar to maintain the leg in a substantially vertical posi-- tion against the: counterforce of the trolley wire. 15. A support for a trolley wire forming part of an overhead trolley system comprising, an

elongated flexible curved segment, a support for -andsecured to theupper-surface of the segment at cit-adjacent to the endsv thereof and'to a sur- I face ofthe, support for. the segment, the planes of the said flattened faces being common or par- 1 allel and the planes of. the said surface of .the segment support and of the said upper surface of the segment being obliquely disposed whereby a a torsional stress will be set-up in each rod when secured in position tending to oppose the side pull of the trolley wire and means associated with the. segment to connect the'segment to the trolley the segment secured thereto adjacent'its longitudinal center, a pair of torsion rods, each rod comprising an elongated unitary member having a flattened face at each end in engagement with and secured to the upper surface of the end portions of the segment and to a surface of the support, the planes of the said flattened faces being obliquely disposed and the planes of the said surfaces of the support for the segment and the said upper surfaces of the segment being common or parallel whereby a torsional stress will be set-up in each rod when secured in position tending to oppose the side pull of the trolley wire.

1'7. A support for a trolley wire forming part of an overhead trolley system comprising, an elongated flexible curved segment, a support for the segment secured thereto adjacent its longitudinal center, a pair of torsion rods, each rod comprising an elongated unitary member having a face at each end in engagement with and secured to the upper surface of the segment at or near the ends of the segment and to a surface of the support, the said faces of the rods being so constructed and arranged relative to the cooperating surfaces of the segment and the support therefor that a torque will be set-up in the rods opposing the side pull of the trolley wire to prevent the ends of the segment twisting out of their normal position due to the said side pull of the trolley wire.

18. In a support for a trolley wire comprising an elongated curved member provided with means to secure the member to the trolley wire and other means attached to the member whereby the member may be supported, the combination with said member of elongated means attached to the member at or adjacent its ends and spaced from the member intermediate the ends thereof to maintain the curvature of the member and to prevent the member twisting about its longitudinal axis due to the side pull of the trolley wire, the said elongated means being pre-torsioned to counteract the said side pull of the trolley wire.

19. In a support for a trolley wire in an overhead trolley system comprising an elongated curved member provided with means to secure the trolley wire to the member along its lower edge and also having means to support the memher, the combination with said member of elongated means attached to the upper edge of the member at or adjacent its ends and spaced from the member intermediate the ends thereof to maintain the curvature of the member and to prevent it twisting about its longitudinal axis due to the side pull of the trolley wire, the last said means being pre-torsioned to counteract the side pull of the trolley wire.

20. In a support for a continuous trolley wire forming a part of a curve in an overhead trolley system comprising an elongated laterally flexible jcurved;s egmer.1t having a vertically disposed leg and provided with transverselydisposed supporting' and pull-01f means secured to the segment intermediate itsends whereby the segment may be, supported and the central portion of .the leg held ina vertical position and means disposed I along the segment to secure the trolley wire ;-,'.thereto,;in--predetermined relation to the lower edge of the segment and to maintain the curvature of thewire: against the side pull thereof, the

- said side pull of the trolley wire exerting'ra force along the lower portion of the segment'tending to twistrthelower edge of the end portions of .theverticalz-legaout. of vertical alignment with the upper edge and also'with the central portion of the segment, the combination with the said supporting means and with the segment of a pair of elongated torsion members, each member having. an end secured to the supporting means against rotation relative thereto and to the segment and having its other end securedto the .1 upperendvportion of the segment against rotationrelatireathereto whereby the' curvature of the segment and the vertical position of the leg are maintained, the elongated members being so constructed and so arranged relative to the supporting means and to the ends of the segment that a twisting of the ends of the segment due to the side pull of the continuous trolley wire will be prevented thereby maintaining the vertical position of the said leg.

21. In a support for a continuous trolley wire comprising an elongated curved segment having a vertically disposed leg and means along the segment to secure a continuous trolley wire thereto in predetermined relation to the lower edge of the segment and having supporting means secured to the segment intermediate its ends to support the segment and maintain the central portion of the said leg in its normal vertical position, the combination with the supporting means and with the segment of elongated tension and torsion members, each member having one end non-rotatably secured to the supporting means and the other ends non-rotatably secured to the upper end portions of the segment, the said tension and torsion members being so constructed spaced from the attachment of the tension and torsion members to the segment.

22. An overhead curve construction comprising, a continuous trolley wire, an elongated bendable segment having a normally vertically disposed leg and a predetermined degree of curvature, supporting and pull-off means attached to the segment intermediate its ends and arranged to maintain the central portion of the said leg in a vertical position, clamping means for attaching the continuous wire to the segment in predetermined relation to the lower edge of the segment and maintain the curvature of the Wire against the side strains thereof, elongated torsion members having their ends non-rotatably secured to the supporting and pull-01f means and nonrotatably associated with the end portions of the segment to maintain the said curvature and to constructed'and arrangedthat a torsional force"- opposing the relative rotation of the ends of each member will develop therein due to the side pull of the continuous trolley'wire thereby resisting the twisting of the end portions of the vertical leg from their vertical position relative to the central portion ofthe leg'and to the supporting member. y

23. A 'support 'for .a continuous trolley conductor forming a part of a curve of an overhead trolley system comprising, an elongated curved segment having a vertically disposed leg with flexible end portions subject to twisting from their normal vertical position due to the side pull of the trolley conductor, means to secure a continuous trolley conductor to the segment and provide a continuous path of contact with a passing current collector, a supporting member for the segment secured thereto intermediate the ends thereof, means disposed on opposite sides of the support member to maintain said vertical position of the end portions of said vertical leg and to maintain the curvature of the segment, the said means comprising elongated members each having one end attached to the support member in non-rotatable relation thereto and to the segment, the other end of each elongated member being non-rotatably attached to an end portion of the segment, the elongated members being so constructed and arranged as to have suflicient rigidity to torsionally prevent a force due to the side pull of the trolley conductor distorting the end portions of the segment from their normal vertical positions, and means associated with the supporting member and cooperating with the adjacent ends of the elongated members whereby the position of the said ends of the elongated members may be altered along the;supporting member and thereby change the curvature of the segment.

SAMUEL S. MA'ITI-DES. 

